Hughie

The Goodman Theatre begins its 2004-2005 season in the Owen Theatre with Eugene O’Neill’s Hughie, starring two-time Tony Award-winning actor Brian Dennehy in the role of Erie Smith and Broadway and film veteran Joe Grifasi as the Clerk. Goodman Artistic Director Robert Falls directs.

Hughie begins as Erie Smith, a small time gambler, comes off of a four-day drinking binge and glides into his sleazy hotel on New York’s West Side. He strikes up a one-sided conversation with the new night clerk, a replacement for Hughie, whose funeral Erie attended the previous week. Hoping to pique the interest of the new clerk, Erie freely reminisces about Hughie who provided a willing ear for Erie’s elaborate pipedreams about playing the horses and living the high life.